Panelboard enclosure with external power cutoff switch

Abstract

An electrical panelboard enclosure includes a primary service panel configured to receive power from a main power source and an alternate power source, an alternate power source connector array, and a distribution panel that delivers main or alternate power to subsidiary load circuits. A service transfer switch unit includes a main power breaker and an alternate power breaker having mutually interlocked toggle switches for respectively activating/deactivating the main and alternate power. The panelboard enclosure further includes a power cutoff switch operable from outside a service entrance door of the enclosure to mechanically engage and deactivate the main power breaker toggle switch.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electrical panelboard enclosure, comprising:
 an enclosure housing having a front, a back, first and second sides, a top, a bottom, an opening in said front, and an interior equipment chamber accessible via said front opening; 
 a service entrance door pivotally mounted on said housing and positionable between a closed position wherein said front opening is covered and an open position wherein said front opening is exposed; 
 a primary service panel in said equipment chamber configured to receive power from a main power source and an alternate power source; 
 a main power source wireway in said equipment chamber arranged for routing main power source wiring to deliver main power from said main power source to said primary service panel; 
 an alternate power source connector array in said equipment chamber accessible from outside said enclosure housing and configured to detachably connect to alternate power source cables; 
 an alternate power source wireway in said equipment chamber arranged for routing alternate power source wiring; 
 alternate power source wiring disposed in said alternate power source wireway and interconnecting said alternate power source connector array and said primary service panel; 
 a distribution panel in said equipment chamber operable to selectively receive said main or alternate power from said primary service panel and distribute said power to one or more subsidiary load circuits; 
 a service transfer switch unit associated with said primary service panel, said service transfer switch unit being operable to selectively deliver said main power and said alternate power to said distribution panel; 
 a main power breaker in said service transfer switch unit having a main power breaker toggle switch operable to selectively activate and deactivate said main power to said distribution panel; 
 an alternate power breaker in said service transfer switch unit having an alternate power breaker toggle switch operable to selectively activate and deactivate said alternate power to said distribution panel; 
 an interlock in said service transfer switch operable to prevent simultaneous activation or deactivation of both said main power breaker toggle switch and said alternate power breaker toggle switch; 
 a power cutoff switch mounted entirely on said service entrance door and operable from outside said service entrance door to mechanically engage and deactivate said main power breaker toggle switch and cutoff said main power without opening said service entrance door; 
 said power cutoff switch comprising a rotatable handle mounted on an outer side of said service entrance door; 
 said handle being mounted on a rotatable hub that extends through said service entrance door; 
 said rotatable hub mounting a rotatable arm member on an inner side of said service entrance door; 
 said arm member being coupled to a slidable switch bar that operatively engages said main power breaker toggle switch for manipulation between a power-on state and a power-off state as said handle, said rotatable hub and said rotatable arm member are rotated; and 
 said rotatable hub being off-center from said switch bar and said arm member being configured with a cam follower pin that operatively engages a cam surface on said switch bar to linearly drive said switch bar when said handle is rotated. 
 
     
     
       2. The panelboard enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein said rotatable handle includes a lock clasp that is movable between a locking position wherein said handle is locked against rotation and an unlocking position wherein said handle is free to rotate, said lock clasp being configured to receive a padlock when in said locking position. 
     
     
       3. A method of using the panelboard enclosure of  claim 1 , comprising:
 opening said service entrance door; 
 manipulating said interlock to allow activation of said main power breaker toggle switch; 
 actuating said main power breaker toggle switch to a power-on position to apply power from said main power source to said distribution panel; 
 placing said power cutoff switch in a power-on position; and 
 closing said service entrance door so that said power cutoff switch engages said main power breaker toggle switch to allow said power cutoff switch to deactivate said main power breaker toggle switch. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , further including actuating said power cutoff switch to deactivate said main power breaker toggle switch and cutoff said main power to said distribution panel while said service entrance door is closed. 
     
     
       5. A method of using the panelboard enclosure of  claim 1 , comprising:
 determining that power from said main power source has been interrupted; 
 connecting individual cables of said alternate power source cables to individual connectors of said alternate power source connector array; 
 opening said service entrance door; 
 actuating said main power breaker toggle switch to a power off position; 
 manipulating said interlock to allow actuation of said alternate power breaker toggle switch; 
 actuating said alternate power breaker toggle switch to a power-on position to apply power from said alternate power source to said distribution panel; 
 placing said power cutoff switch in a power-off position; and 
 closing said service entrance door so that said power cutoff switch engages said main power breaker toggle switch to allow said service entrance door to close. 
 
     
     
       6. An electrical panelboard enclosure, comprising:
 an enclosure housing having a front, a back, first and second sides, a top, a bottom and an interior equipment chamber; 
 a primary service panel in said equipment chamber configured to receive power from a main power source and an alternate power source; 
 a main power source wireway in said equipment chamber arranged for routing main power source wiring to deliver main power from said main power source to said primary service panel; 
 an alternate power source connector array in said equipment chamber accessible from outside said enclosure housing and configured to detachably connect to alternate power source cables; 
 an alternate power source wireway in said equipment chamber arranged for routing alternate power source wiring; 
 alternate power source wiring disposed in said alternate power source wireway and interconnecting said alternate power source connector array and said primary service panel; 
 a distribution panel in said equipment chamber operable to selectively receive said main or alternate power from said primary service panel and distribute said power to one or more subsidiary load circuits; 
 a service transfer switch unit associated with said primary service panel, said service transfer switch unit being operable to selectively deliver said main power and said alternate power to said distribution panel; 
 a main power breaker in said service transfer switch unit having a main power breaker toggle switch operable to selectively activate and deactivate said main power to said distribution panel; 
 an alternate power breaker in said service transfer switch unit having an alternate power breaker toggle switch operable to selectively activate and deactivate said alternate power to said distribution panel; 
 an interlock in said service transfer switch operable to prevent simultaneous activation or deactivation of both said main power breaker toggle switch and said alternate power breaker toggle switch; 
 a power cutoff switch mounted entirely on said enclosure housing and operable from outside said enclosure to mechanically engage and deactivate said main power breaker toggle switch and cutoff said main power; and 
 said power cutoff switch being selected from the group consisting of: 
 (1) a rotatable handle mechanism comprising a rotatable handle mounted on an outer side of said enclosure housing, said handle being mounted on a rotatable hub that extends through said enclosure housing, said rotatable hub mounting a rotatable arm member on an inner side of said enclosure housing, said arm member being coupled to a slidable switch bar that operatively engages said main power breaker toggle switch for manipulation between a power-on state and a power-off state as said handle, said rotatable hub and said rotatable arm member are rotated, and said rotatable hub being off-center from said switch bar, and said arm member being configured with a cam follower pin that operatively engages a cam surface on said switch bar to linearly drive said switch bar when said handle is rotated; 
 (2) a rotatable handle mechanism a rotatable handle mounted on an outer side of said enclosure housing, said handle being mounted on a rotatable hub that extends through said service entrance door, said rotatable hub mounting at least two rotatable arm members on an inner side of said enclosure housing, said rotatable arm members directly engaging said main power breaker toggle switch depending on a rotational position of said handle; 
 (3) a pivotable handle mechanism, said pivotable handle mechanism including a pivotable handle and a cam lobe that operatively engages said main power breaker toggle switch as said handle is pivoted; and 
 (4) a slidable handle mechanism, said slidable handle mechanism includes a slidable handle and a fork hub that operatively engages said main power breaker toggle switch as said handle is slid between first and second positions. 
 
     
     
       7. The panelboard enclosure of  claim 6 , further including a door providing access to said interior equipment chamber, and wherein said power cutoff switch is mounted on said door. 
     
     
       8. The panelboard enclosure of  claim 7 , wherein said door is a service entrance door. 
     
     
       9. An electrical panelboard enclosure, comprising:
 an enclosure housing having a front, a back, first and second sides, a top, a bottom, an opening in said front, and an interior equipment chamber accessible via said front opening; 
 a service entrance door pivotally mounted on said housing and positionable between a closed position wherein said front opening is covered and an open position wherein said front opening is exposed; 
 a primary service panel in said equipment chamber configured to receive power from a main power source and an alternate power source; 
 a main power source wireway in said equipment chamber arranged for routing main power source wiring to deliver main power from said main power source to said primary service panel; 
 an alternate power source connector array in said equipment chamber accessible from outside said enclosure housing and configured to detachably connect to alternate power source cables; 
 an alternate power source wireway in said equipment chamber arranged for routing alternate power source wiring; 
 alternate power source wiring disposed in said alternate power source wireway and interconnecting said alternate power source connector array and said primary service panel; 
 a distribution panel in said equipment chamber operable to selectively receive said main or alternate power from said primary service panel and distribute said power to one or more subsidiary load circuits; 
 a service transfer switch unit associated with said primary service panel, said service transfer switch unit being operable to selectively deliver said main power and said alternate power to said distribution panel; 
 a main power breaker in said service transfer switch unit having a main power breaker toggle switch operable to selectively activate and deactivate said main power to said distribution panel; 
 an alternate power breaker in said service transfer switch unit having an alternate power breaker toggle switch operable to selectively activate and deactivate said alternate power to said distribution panel; 
 an interlock in said service transfer switch operable to prevent simultaneous activation or deactivation of both said main power breaker toggle switch and said alternate power breaker toggle switch; 
 a power cutoff switch mounted entirely on said service entrance door and operable from outside said service entrance door to mechanically engage and deactivate said main power breaker toggle switch and cutoff said main power without opening said service entrance door; and 
 said power cutoff switch being selected from the group consisting of: 
 (1) a rotatable handle mechanism having a rotatable handle mounted on a rotatable hub, a rotatable arm on said hub, and a slidable switch bar driven by said arm and operatively engaging said main power breaker toggle switch, for manipulation between a power-on state and a power-off state as said handle, said rotatable hub and said rotatable arm member are rotated, and said rotatable hub being off-center from said switch bar, and said arm member being configured with a cam follower pin that operatively engages a cam surface on said switch bar to linearly drive said switch bar when said handle is rotated; 
 (2) a rotatable handle mechanism having a rotatable handle mounted on a rotatable hub and at least two rotatable arms on said hub operatively engaging said main power breaker toggle switch; 
 (3) a pivotable handle mechanism having a pivotable handle and a cam lobe that operatively engages said main power breaker toggle switch as said handle is pivoted; and 
 (4) a slidable handle mechanism having a slidable handle and a fork hub that operatively engages said main power breaker toggle switch as said handle is slid slid between first and second positions.